Preparing To Rejoice In Him // November 4, 2018

PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR WORSHIP ON November 4, 2018

REFLECTION

“At it’s heart, this debate isn’t about a debate. It’s about people: precious people made in the image of God who are hurting, who are confused, who are angry, who are scared, who may have been told by their family that they are unwelcome…What would Jesus do? He would listen to us, and he would love us, and when he disagreed with us, it would always and only be out of compassion, never oppression. There is no hurting person he would mock, or shun, or insult, or sneer at. He is so determined to pursue what is best for all of us that died – excluded, mocked, and rejected – to secure it.” Andrew T. Walker, God and the Transgender Debate

Question 4: How and why did God create us?

God created us male and female in his own image to know him, love him, live with him, and glorify him. And it is right that we who were created by God should live to his glory. (New City Catechism)

CALL TO WORSHIP :: Matthew 11:28-30

[28] Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (ESV)

WORSHIP IN SONG :: He Will Give The Weary Strength

Those who hope in the Lord
Will renew their strength
They will run and not grow weary
They will walk and not be faint
And like a flight upon an eagle’s wings
He will give the weary strength

(Bridge)

So lift your eyes up to the sky
To the one who hears you when you cry

Chorus 2

Those who hope in the Lord
Will renew their strength
They will run and not grow weary
They will walk and not be faint
Like a flight upon an eagle’s wings
He will give, He will give
He will give the weary strength

SERMON :: Genesis 1:1,26-27

Genesis 1:1

[1] In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:26–27

[26] Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

[27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (ESV)

COMMUNION :: The Lord’s Supper

We will come to the Table this Sunday to feast with our Lord; Christ, himself, invites us to come and sit with him. What makes this time so special from any other day in worship? It’s special because even though we are sinners, beggars, idolaters and rebels a King sets the table and makes a place for us – filth and all – and is pleased to dine with us, his family.

Read these words from John Calvin’s Short Treatise on the Lord’s Supper to help you better prepare for this coming Sunday.

“Here, then, is the singular consolation which we derive from the Supper. It directs and leads us to the cross of Jesus Christ and to his resurrection, to certify us that whatever iniquity there may be in us, the Lord nevertheless recognises and accepts us as righteous—whatever materials of death may be in us, he nevertheless gives us life— whatever misery, may be in us, he nevertheless fills us with all felicity. Or to explain the matter more simply—as in ourselves we are devoid of all good, and have not one particle of what might help to procure salvation, the Supper is an attestation that, having been made partakers of the death and passion of Jesus Christ, we have every thing that is useful and salutary to us.”